Define professional development.

Define professional development.

• A. Learning to earn or maintain professional credentials such as academic degrees to formal coursework, attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice.
• B. A process of getting promoted within an organization.
• C. A plan to reduce working hours.
• D. A method to evaluate performance.

Answer: (A)

Professional development means ongoing learning and activities that help you grow your skills, update your knowledge, and earn or maintain credentials throughout your career. The description in this item captures that idea by including earning or maintaining professional credentials such as degrees, engaging in formal coursework, attending conferences, and learning informally in practice—all of which contribute to staying competent and advancing in a field. Other options describe advancing within an organization, changing work hours, or evaluating performance, which are related concepts but do not define the continuous learning and credentialing process that professional development centers on.

Professional development means ongoing learning and activities that help you grow your skills, update your knowledge, and earn or maintain credentials throughout your career. The description in this item captures that idea by including earning or maintaining professional credentials such as degrees, engaging in formal coursework, attending conferences, and learning informally in practice—all of which contribute to staying competent and advancing in a field. Other options describe advancing within an organization, changing work hours, or evaluating performance, which are related concepts but do not define the continuous learning and credentialing process that professional development centers on.